Eric Cantona’s Ford Capri creation even has famous ‘kung fu kick’ detailing
Ford partners with Cantona for the new Capri’s launch campaign
While Eric Cantona was a brilliant footballer and a certified Manchester United legend, if you were to ask the majority of people to recall his most famous moments, you wouldn’t be surprised if many of the answers you received had nothing to do with his 185 career goals. Even that lobbed finish in a 5-0 win against Sunderland.
His ice-cold but casual persona, humour, memorable quotes, and, of course, that famous kung fu kick away to Crystal Palace would be the first things on many lips when describing King Eric. And now the former Manchester United number seven’s legend is being celebrated through a collaboration with Ford and its new Capri.
One-off Ford Capri fit for a ‘King’
The Frenchman and the Ford Design studio’s one-off Capri boasts a host of detailing befitting of King Eric, and has been built with custom-made elements to exact specifications.
Thomas Morel, exterior design manager for the Capri, and a select group of the Ford Design studio team met with Eric Cantona to discuss ideas and concepts before beginning work on the one-off car. Several concepts were created by the team before the finished creation was presented to Cantona in a ceremony at Ford France headquarters by Louis-Carl Vignon, president of Ford France.
Exterior
Taking the Capri RWD Extended Range as the starting point, Cantona’s one-off vehicle is finished in Signal Orange, a colour previously seen on many 1970s models from the brand, including the Mark III Capri. A gloss black stripe that leads to the number seven, Cantona’s shirt number at Manchester United, while two gloss black racing stripes run from the nose to the tail.
The former footballer’s signature and Ford Design logo are also seen in gloss black on the front wing. Even more gloss black is used on the one-off rear spoiler, which Ford says “highlights Cantona’s and the Capri’s sporting credentials.” Another nice touch sees a 3D badge in the shape of a crown nodding to Cantona’s ‘King Eric’ nickname.
The whole car sits on 21-inch alloy wheels finished in black with dark silver paint on the outer rims.
Interior
While the exterior of the Capri nods to Cantona’s exploits on the pitch, inside is a tribute to his famously unique personality.
The central console has a 3D printed removable cover above the cupholders, finished in polished Plexiglas. On it contains the quote said by King Eric prior to the launch of the Capri: “When a goat follows his hero in his car, it’s because the ruler on the racetrack returns. The Legend is back.” The script is picked out in the same Signal Orange used on the exterior and is backlit to illuminate with the cabin lighting.
Despite getting an eight-month ban for his kung fu kick at Selhurst Park in 1995, Cantona isn’t keen to forget it any time soon, and a silhouette of the headline-grabbing kick is stitched into the front headrests. The material used on these seats matches the exterior of the Capri, featuring Feeltek Luxury Grain trim with orange stitching and Signal Orange twin stripes. These are complemented by custom nubuck with orange stitching floor mats and a leather steering wheel with Signal Orange central spoke.
“Deserves the title of ‘Legend’”
Perhaps the final part of this article should be another quote from the man himself. Speaking about his one-off Capri, Cantona said: “True joy comes from expression, whether that is on the football pitch, on canvas or the stage. This Capri reflects the many facets of Cantona – it deserves the title of ‘Legend’.”
Maybe not quite as memorable as the “seagulls follow the trawler” line, but he set an impossibly high bar to reach with that one.
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words: Mike Booth
pictures: Ford